Geek Girl by Holly Smale

Harriet Manners know a lot of things.

Cats have 32 muscles in each ear

Bluebirds can't see the colout blue

The average person laughs 15 times per day

Peanuts are an ingredient of dynamite

But she doesn't know why nobody at school seems to like her. So when she is offered the chance to reinvent herself, Harriet grabs it. Can she transform from geek to chic?

I read Geek Girl as part of Laura Lovelocks Book Reviews summer book challenge and what a fantastic book this was!!

There has been a lot of hype about this YA book and when I mentioned I was reading it on Twitter, it got a very positive response with lots of people (particularly those who read YA) saying that they really wanted to read it. So I was very intrigued to see what the fuss was about.

Harriet Manners is a geek. She is extremely clever and manages to put very interesting facts into any type of conversation, whether you were asking for them or not. Harriet doesn't have a lot of friends, but she does have her best (and only) friend Nat and she also has a stalker Toby, who although annoying, is actually really sweet. 

Harriet was a fantastic character, really down to earth and actually very funny. She says 'sugar cookies' quite a lot in this book as she's always getting into tricky and sometimes embarrassing situations.One of these embarrassing situations is at a fashion show that her friend Nat takes her to. Nat has dragged Harriet along in the hope that she will get spotted by a modelling agency.  Harriet is just hoping that the day will be over soon and she can get back to normal 'geek; things. But what transpires is not at all what anyone was expecting. It is Harriet that gets spotted by the slightly mad, fashion man that is Wilbur. He really does say some funny things, referring to Harriet as directionally challenged with her lazy eye.

Another character that I have to mention in this book is Harriet's Dad. He really had me laughing out loud. It has to be the coolest Dad ever and is really more like a child than an adult and has to be reigned in occassionally by his wife (Harriet's Stepmum) Annabel.

I could completely relate to Harriet in this book. I was definitely a geek at school, although not as clever as Harriet but definitely was in the same friend situation as her and was usually at the butt of some not altogether nice jokes. I think anyone who was lucky enough to be popular at school will not understand Harriet, but I strongly suggest they read it. Put yourself in our shoes for a while!

There is also a great underlying message in this book that everyone should take away with them. Don't try and change yourself just so that others will like you. Just be you and don't let anyone tell you otherwise; if anyone doesn't like that, then so what that's their issue not yours.

Even though I am quite a bit older than the age group this book was intended for I still thoroughly enjoyed it. It is a really enjoyable easy read and you will whizz through it.

I am looking forward to the sequel 'Geek Girl is back as I really want to read more about Harriet.

8/10